World War IWorld War I

Underlying Causes Underlying Causes (excuses)(excuses) ImperialismImperialism

Taking over other nations (motivations vary)Taking over other nations (motivations vary) Creates instability and violates nations’ sovereignty (self-Creates instability and violates nations’ sovereignty (self-

determination)determination)

NationalismNationalism Intense feeling of pride/loyalty to one’s own groupIntense feeling of pride/loyalty to one’s own group

Problematic when at expense of other nations’ sovereignty Problematic when at expense of other nations’ sovereignty (self-determination) Ex. Pan-Germanism and Pan-Slavism(self-determination) Ex. Pan-Germanism and Pan-Slavism

MilitarismMilitarism Arms racing and keeping an army prepared for war Arms racing and keeping an army prepared for war

defense or hostile actions/intentions???defense or hostile actions/intentions??? Entangling AlliancesEntangling Alliances

Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy)Italy)

Triple Entente (G.B., France, and Russia)Triple Entente (G.B., France, and Russia) Causes chain reaction and a much bigger conflict - “world Causes chain reaction and a much bigger conflict - “world

war”war”

How does it all start?How does it all start? Where does it start?Where does it start?

Balkan PeninsulaBalkan Peninsula ““Powder Keg of Europe”Powder Keg of Europe” Why called Powder Keg?Why called Powder Keg?

Ethnic/religious disputes in region (explosive Ethnic/religious disputes in region (explosive situation)situation)

The “Spark”The “Spark” Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife Sophie assassinated by Serb wife Sophie assassinated by Serb nationalistnationalist

Part IPart I Part IIPart II

War DeclaredWar Declared Austria-Hungary declares Austria-Hungary declares

war on Serbia after issuing war on Serbia after issuing an ultimatuman ultimatumWar Declared - July 28War Declared - July 28thth 1914 1914

Sets off chain reaction due Sets off chain reaction due to alliance systemto alliance systemRussia, Germany, France, Russia, Germany, France, and finally Britain (major and finally Britain (major powers directly involved)powers directly involved)

MAJOR NATIONS INVOLVED IN MAJOR NATIONS INVOLVED IN WARWAR

AlliesAllies Great Britain, France, Russia Great Britain, France, Russia

(until 1918), Serbia, Japan, Italy (until 1918), Serbia, Japan, Italy (1915), U.S. (1917)(1915), U.S. (1917)

Central PowersCentral Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary, Germany, Austria-Hungary,

Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire

INITIALLY NOT SEENINITIALLY NOT SEEN AS A AS A MAJOR WARMAJOR WAR

Most believe it will be Most believe it will be over quicklyover quickly

Patriotic fervor sweeps Patriotic fervor sweeps EuropeEurope

SCHLIEFFEN SCHLIEFFEN PLANPLAN

Quick victory in France; then Quick victory in France; then turn on Russiaturn on Russia ““Paris for lunch; dinner in St. Paris for lunch; dinner in St.

Petersburg”Petersburg”

Does not turn out that wayDoes not turn out that way Why not?Why not?

With help from Belgium, and Russian With help from Belgium, and Russian attack; France and Britain are able to attack; France and Britain are able to mobilize and halt German advance at mobilize and halt German advance at Battle of the MarneBattle of the Marne

WESTERN FRONTWESTERN FRONT Trench Warfare; Trench Warfare;

basically a stalematebasically a stalemate Why?Why?

New Technology New Technology (weapons); too costly to (weapons); too costly to use old battle tacticsuse old battle tactics

EASTERN FRONTEASTERN FRONT Russians had to mobilize Russians had to mobilize

(outdated army)(outdated army) German forces Russian retreat German forces Russian retreat

(Tannenberg)(Tannenberg) Russians sign treaty in 1918 Russians sign treaty in 1918

(Brest-Litovsk)(Brest-Litovsk) Why?Why?

Revolution (1917) Revolution (1917)

UNITED STATESUNITED STATES Why does it take so long for the U.S. to enter the Why does it take so long for the U.S. to enter the

war?war? IsolationismIsolationism

Why?Why? Tradition (Washington, Jefferson, others)Tradition (Washington, Jefferson, others) Ethnicity (British or Germans???)Ethnicity (British or Germans???)

Why does U.S. finally enter the war on the Allies Why does U.S. finally enter the war on the Allies side?side? Propaganda (mostly from British)Propaganda (mostly from British) Sinking of the Lusitania 1915Sinking of the Lusitania 1915 Unrestricted U-boat warfareUnrestricted U-boat warfare Zimmerman telegram (1917)Zimmerman telegram (1917)

U.S. DECLARES U.S. DECLARES WAR APRIL 6, WAR APRIL 6,

19171917 ““World must be made safe World must be made safe

for Democracy!”for Democracy!” Not well prepared (non-Not well prepared (non-

intervention)intervention) Americans turn the tide of Americans turn the tide of

warwarChange way war is wagedChange way war is waged ““Devil Dogs” (Marines)Devil Dogs” (Marines)

ARMISTICEARMISTICE November 11, 1918 at 11:00 am November 11, 1918 at 11:00 am “Eleventh hour of the eleventh “Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”day of the eleventh month”

German economy in poor shapeGerman economy in poor shapeNew Leadership (Weimar New Leadership (Weimar Republic) surrenders – Republic) surrenders –

Revolution (Hitler’s “November Revolution (Hitler’s “November Criminals”)Criminals”)

Short Term Short Term Consequences of WarConsequences of WarDeath- 30 million people Death- 30 million people Slaughter, disease, starvationSlaughter, disease, starvation

Destruction Destruction Farmland, homes, and villagesFarmland, homes, and villages

Economic ImpactEconomic ImpactNational treasuries drained; National treasuries drained; debt figures vary – much owed debt figures vary – much owed to U.S. (creditor nation v. debtor to U.S. (creditor nation v. debtor nation)nation)

Psychological Effect- despair, Psychological Effect- despair, insecurityinsecurity

Long Term Long Term ConsequencesConsequences Peace Process (Versailles Treaty)Peace Process (Versailles Treaty)

Big Four dominate proceedingsBig Four dominate proceedings Wilson – U.S. (14 Points)Wilson – U.S. (14 Points)

Wilson had attempted earlier to negotiate peace Wilson had attempted earlier to negotiate peace settlement – a “peace without victory”settlement – a “peace without victory”

Clemenceau – France (Punish Clemenceau – France (Punish Germany!)Germany!)

David Lloyd George – G.B. (punish but David Lloyd George – G.B. (punish but more moderate than Clemenceau)more moderate than Clemenceau)

Orlando – Italy (Land)Orlando – Italy (Land)End Result = Germans must pay!!End Result = Germans must pay!!

Their excuse for not listening to Their excuse for not listening to Wilson?Wilson?

U.S. had not sacrificed as much as other U.S. had not sacrificed as much as other AlliesAllies

Long Term Long Term Consequences (cont.)Consequences (cont.) Treaty creates bitterness and Treaty creates bitterness and

resentmentresentment Germany - as a result of Versailles Treaty:Germany - as a result of Versailles Treaty:

Must accept full responsibility for the WarMust accept full responsibility for the War Must pay war reparations (severe)Must pay war reparations (severe) Loses territory (Alsace/Lorraine and other)Loses territory (Alsace/Lorraine and other) Military limited (100,000 man army)Military limited (100,000 man army)

Italy – did not gain territory Italy – did not gain territory League of NationsLeague of Nations

U.S. does not joinU.S. does not join Why not? Why not?

Only Senate has power to declare war not League of Only Senate has power to declare war not League of NationsNations

World Wide Economic Crisis World Wide Economic Crisis (Depression)(Depression)

Belfour Declaration - ZionismBelfour Declaration - Zionism